CM: link tourist spots to form tourism circuits

Tourist destinations located in proximity to each other should be linked and developed into tourism circuits. In addition to this, assistance should also be sought from well established industrialists for the construction of ghats along the Ganga between Haridwar and Rishikesh. Chief Minister Harish Rawat issued these instructions while presiding over a meet to review functioning of the tourism department on Thursday.

Rawat stressed that an integrated approach be adopted in order to develop tourism sites. He told officials to focus on Harkidoon-Kedarkantha, Bharat circuit (Kotdwar-Kanwashram), Jageshwar-Madmaheshwar, Kalsi-Hanol-lakhamandal, Champawat-Mayawati-Purnagiri, lansdowne-Tadkeshwar, Purola-Mori, Kausani-Gwaldam-Garud-Bedni and Jakholi-Badhanital treks and circuits in order to place them on the tourism map. An action plan should be prepared for developing smaller meditation centres in this region. It was stated in the meeting that work on the wellness centre had been included in the Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali tourism self employment scheme. The Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam and the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam are facilitating Panchakarma for this purpose, it was stated.

Rawat said that the tourism department had undertaken considerable effort at tourist sites Harkidoon, Jageshwar, Kanwashram, lakhamandal, Poornagiri and Gwaldam among others. Now it is time to integrate these efforts and execute work in a mission mode. He said, “Even now, there are many locations in the state which are not known to tourists. Necessary facilities should be provided among other efforts to bring such destinations on the tourism chart. The events which  had been organised at Jageshwar and Madmaheshwar should be held in a consistent manner to establish the events. The State tourism department had chosen the Dyara Bugyal in Uttarkashi district as trek of the year, which should be publicised along with provisioning of facilities. The Joshiyada area in Uttarkashi district should be developed into a boating centre apart from which adventure tourism activities should be organised at Dhattu Bhilang in Tehri district,” said the Chief Minister.

He directed officials to improve the pace of work under the Mussoorie-Dhanaulti-Chamba-New Tehri tourism circuit scheme. Rawat also pointed out that work is being undertaken on the development of hot water spring in Madkot. He further instructed that the Banlekh area in Champawat district should be developed into a jungle of Burans (rhododendron). Additionally, the officials were also told to lay special focus on facilitation of home-stay facility under the village tourism scheme in the villages situated along the route from Mussoorie to Dhanaulti.

While the State Government claims to be undertaking various efforts and plan ‘ambitious’ tasks to further develop the tourism sector in Uttarakhand, factors like official blunders and ineffiency continue to present a picture of poor facilitation of tourism in the State. The Pioneer had on May 24 elicited focus on the outdated information on the State Government’s official website welcoming people to “Uttarakhand Char Dham Yatra 2015”. More than two months later, the scenario remains unchanged with visitors to the website being welcomed to the previous year’s Char Dham Yatra along with ‘relevant’ data and schedule of the previous year’s pilgrimage.

The home page of the State Government website uk.gov.in has various features which also include a slideshow of image with links to various welfare programmes and services of the Central and State Governments. One of these slides declares “Uttarakhand welcomes you to Chardham Yatra 2015 the religious retreat in the Himalayas…” Clicking this link takes one to a page of the official website of Uttarakhand Tourism Development Board (UTDB) uttarakhandtourism.gov.in.

The State Government has spent a considerable amount of money, time and resources towards boosting the number of tourist arrivals from across the nation and abroad. However, the work inefficiency and level of professionalism as presented by such blatant blunders on the Government websites further dents the image of the UTDB which is stated to be the highest body to advise Government on all matters relating to tourism in Uttarakhand. State tourism minister heads the statutory board with the chief secretary as it’s vice chairman. This board also functions as a regulatory and licensing authority. Observers point out that the bungling and unprofessional working of the State administration as on protracted display on the Government website raise serious questions about the intention and approach of the authorities concerned.